Bringing a sign of relief to thousands of Cardiac patients, the Maharashtra government has said that the medical devices like stents and catheters must be sold at the maximum retail price (MRP). These patients are charged 300% to 400% the cost of stents, a tiny metal tube implanted into the narrowed coronary arteries.
“Stents that used to cost Rs 1.50 lakh will now be sold at Rs 7,255. Imported stents will not cost Rs 2 lakh to Rs2.50 lakh, they will be available for Rs 29,000,” said state minister for food and drugs administration, Girish Bapat.
The state also listed out major hospitals in Mumbai that sell the medical devices at increased rates. A case has been filed cases against them under the Consumer Protection Act after they found that these hospitals sold stents at three to four times the import rate, said Bapat.
“We took action against eight hospitals, which had been charging patients Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.90 lakh for a stent, though they bought these from importers for Rs 50,000 to Rs 90,000,” he said.
Bapat also warned hospitals and stent suppliers of strict action if they were caught overpricing. The maximum punishment under the Consumer Protection Act is a jail term of 7-years.
